U-16 GNT and U-17 WNT to Face Germany's U-17s in Matches at HDC from March 4-7

NewsFeb 23, 2007

CHICAGO (February 23, 2007) - Some of the top young female players in the world will come together at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., from March 4-7 as the U.S. Under-16 Girl’s and Under-17 Women’s National Teams host the German Under-17 Women’s National Team.

The Germans will play two matches each against the U.S. U-16s and U-17s on alternating days while the U.S. U-16s and U-17s will kick off the five-game schedule with a match against each other on Friday, March 2 at 4 p.m. PT.

The U-17 Women’s National Team will play Germany on Sunday, March 4, at 4 p.m. PT and Tuesday, March 6, at 10 a.m. PT while the U-16s will get their chance to face Germany on Monday, March 5, at 4 p.m. and Wednesday, March 7, at 10 a.m. This will be the third consecutive year that the German U-17s have visited California in late February/early March to face the U.S. U-16s and U-17s.

U.S. Under-16 Girl’s National Team head coach Kazbek Tambi will bring 24 players to the event as he continues preparations for next year’s FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, the first-ever FIFA women’s championship held for this age group, taking place in the fall of 2008 in New Zealand. The USA is gearing up for CONCACAF qualification for the World Cup, but the dates and host country have not yet been decided. The U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team will also have 24 players for the matches.

The Germans will bring 28 players for their four games in four days schedule, about half in the U-16 age group and half in the U-17s. Last year, the U.S. U-17s defeated Germany 3-2 and tied 1-1. The U.S. U-16s lost the first match against Germany last year by a 3-0 score, but rallied in the second game to win 2-1 on an 88th minute goal from Tiffany McCarty, who this year will be playing with the U.S. U-17s. Brittani Bartok, the other U.S. goal scorer in that match, will also play for the U-17s.

All of the matches between the USA and Germany will be played on Field #1 at The HDC.